Heating-element support



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,402 H. A. MULVANY HEATING ELEMENT SUPPORT Filed Dec. 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l TORNEYS.

INVENTOR.

H. A. MULVANY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES HARRY A. 'MUIJVAJIT, OI BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

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Application filed December 22, 1928. Serial No. 156,825.

This invention relates vto a support for electric resistance heating elements and particularly to improvements on the type of suport disclosed in my former patent entitled I lectric furnace, Number 1,529,368, issued March 10, 1925'.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of heating element suplo ports of the character described; to provide av support which is adapted both for ribbon and coil types of electric resistance heating elements; to provide a support which may be employed in electric heaters and furnaces and which may be placed both in a vertical and horizontal position, when required and furto provide a support which will afiord efii cient insulation and-insure that the temperature of the resistance elements will exceed the 90 temperature of a furnace by as small an increment as possible. v

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which a 86 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a single unit type of electric resistance heating element support,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a triple type of electric resistance heating ele- 80 ment support,

Figures 3, 4.- and 5 are perspective views showing modified forms of electric resistance heating element supports,

Figure 6 is a front view of the type of block shown in Figure 2, said view also showing a ribbon type of heating element applied,

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a ribbon type of electric resistance heating element wound in a zigzag form and ready to be placed in position on the heating element sup p Figure 8 is a side elevation of the'type of.

heating element support shown in Figure 3, said side elevation showing the position that the heating element support and the heating element assumes when placed in the roof or areh of a furnace,

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the type of support shown in Figure 4, said figure illustrating the position that the support and the heating element assumes when placed in the side wall 01 the furnace of an oven.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a type of heating element support shown in Figure 5,

port and the heating element assumes when .caited at 4, 4" and 4*.

said figure showing the position that the sup-' ike.

Referring to the drawings, in detail, and

particularly Figure 1, A indicates a base portion of a heating element support and 2 and 3 end or head sections formed at opposite ends of the base. Also formed on the base andextending substantially from end to end thereof is a rib 4. This rib tapers in cross section from the top to the bottom so as to present inclined side surfaces and to reenforce and increase the strength of the rib. The ends of the rib are interspaced with relation to the head members 2 and 3 and projecting tongs or lugs are formed as at 5 to retain the I laced in the side wall of a furnace orithe I heating elements against displacement when applied. In Figure 1 the base section'is' illustrated as being comparatively long and nar row and as supporting a single rib such as indicated at 4. In Figure 2 the base has been widened and three ribs are, employed, as indi- The base may, however, be materially widened when desired and any number of ribs may be employed, if desired.

In actual practice, it will be understood that the heating element support described and illustrated may be employed in numerous electric heating installations, such as domestic electric air heaters, electric furnaces and the like. Where the heating element support is employed in an ordinary domestic electric air heater, one or more blocks such as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 are placed vertically and side by side and a ribbon typeof element such as shown in Figures 6 and 7 iswound in zigzag form around and between the ribs, the tongs 5 serving the function of retaining the ribbon element against displacement.

The heating element supports or blocks shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 are particularly adapted for electric heaters, while the blocks shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are particularly adapted for electric furnace construction. The. block or heating element support shown in Figure 3 is substantially identical to the type of block shown in Figures 1 and 2, the a only diiference being that the head sections 2* and 3 are channeled, as indicated at 6, so as to form an inwardly projecting lug or support 7 which acts as asupport for one end of the heating element as illustrated in Figure 8. For instance, in the construction of an electric furnace, where it is desired to place the heating elements in the roof or arch of the furnace, the type of block shown in Figures 3 and 8 is preferably employed.

' bent or woun into zigzag form, as shown in c-sume a position where the ends Figure 7 and may be placed in position on: the heating element support as shown in F1 e 8b passing the u per ends of the ribi dh indib ated at 8, thro1i gh the slot indicated at 9 and then shovin the u per ends in under the lug 7. When t is has en done, the lower ends 10 of the heating element will register with the slot' 11 and may thus be inserted. The heating element is then pulled in the opposite direction and it will thus as- 8 are su rted by the lugs 5 of the ribs and the ends 10 of the ribbon will be supported by the lug 7". This type of support permitsa heating element of the ribbon type to be bent into the heating element supports, particularly form and to be readily placed in positioii on in the roof or arch section and it also permits ready'removal of these elements for repair,

, present type of y then be swung inwardly and will clear the -.ment supports, but by renewal or otherwise. This is particularly important in electric furnace work as the ribbons are usually bent up or formed of heavy metal and as such cannot be easily wound or bent into position on the supports. With the support, this is obviated as the ribbon is bent into shape before it is ap: plied and placed in position.

The blocks shown in Figurcs4, 5, 9 and 10 are also articularly suited for electric furnace 'wor where heavy ribbon ty of ele-' ments are employed. The type '0 supports shown in Figures 4, 5, 9 a nd 10 being usually placed in the side walls of the furnace. Wit a type of block or supportfshown in Figures 4 and 9, the heating element shown in Figure 7 is placed in position by passing the upper looped ends 8 through the slot indicated at 1.2;and then dropping the element down behind the retaining lugs 5. The lower looped ends 10 of the heating element may lower lugs 5' which, in that instance, serves no useful function. The lower head member indicated at 2 is provided with a slanting.

surface as shown at 14. This is important particularly in annealing furnaces, as actual practice has determined that scale tends to collect at the lower ends of the heating eleroviding a slanting surface, collection of scale is prevented.

. of block or heating element a own The sugport in Figures 5 and 10 is also intend for ado 13:11] construction in electric furnaces and The head members 2 and 3 are, in this instance, entirely eliminated that is, the heating elementmerely consists of a base section such as shown at A and the base carries one or more ribs such as shown at 4. The'tongs 5 are formed on the upper ends of the ribs and as the are not required on the lower ends of the ri they are entirely elimin ted. The heating elements, are also woundfjgr tions of adjacent coils.

bent in be resorted to within the seope oi shape as shown in Figure 5 and are merely hung over the ribs, as shown in-Figure 10.

The heating element supports, as previously stated, are placed side by saide when installed in a furnace, heater or otherwise. They may be clamped or mortared into position or othcrwise secured and a single unit block such as shown in Figure 1 or multiple unit blocks, such as shown in Figure 2, may

be employed as conditions may demand. In any instance, where the blocks are placed side by side, a series of parallel interspaced ribs will be presented and the heating element will be supported by the-ribs and will be either bentor wound to form a zigzag type of unit. While a ribbon type of heating element is illustrated, it should be understood that a helically wound coil or any other suitable type of element may be employed. The brickor heating element support illustrated may constructed of any reiractory insulating material. It is exceedingly simple and substantial in construction and permits read a plication of a heating element. The ribs lbrm 'th'e support for the heating elements in cerer is avoided and the temperature of the electric elements will, furthermore exceed the temperature of the furnace or heater by an exceedingly small increment. On the other hand where shielding is eliminated, the temperature of the adjacent elements is materially raised by radiation from one to the other and the amount of electric motive force which may be passed through the heater is materially reduced.

i The head members formed on the sitipporte serve a number of functions: first t 01 reenforcing the supports; secondly that ol assisting in sup rtmg the heating elements particularlv as own in Figures 3 and 8, and

third that of shielding the end sections of the coils from the radiant enefiy of the end sece head member: may, however, be entirely eliminated do mestic' air heaters and the like where a fllllglt row of supports is employed (see, for instanq Figure 10) as the shielding action of the epc sections of the heating element is m that in stance, entirely unnry.

While certain features of the present 1n vention are more or less speciflcall' described I wish it understood that various ma p pended claims. Similarly that the materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide or varying eonditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. A device of the; chfiractgri) desc'lribed, com risin a rectan ar s a ase p ate, a vertibally disposed i ib exte ii ding substantially from end to end thereof, and 'a lug projecting from one end of the rib and formin a recess between the base plate and the end of the rib. V V

2. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular shaped base plate, a vertically disposed rib extendingsubstantially from end to end thereof, said rib tapering in cross section from top to base and;

being widest at the base, and :1. lug projecting from one end of the rib and forming a recess between the base plate and the end of the rib. 3. A device of the character described,

. comprising a rectangular shaped base plate,

a vertically disposed rib extending substantially from end to end thereof, said rib tapering in cross section from top to baseand being widest at the-base, and aprojecting lug formed on eachend of the rib and forming a recess between the base plate and each end of the rib.

4-. A device of ,the character described, comprising a rectangular shaped base section, a head member on each endof the-base section, a narrow rib extending substantially from end to end of the base between the head members and separated from the same, and a projecting lug on each end of the rib and orming a recess between the base plate ,and

each end of the rib. v 5.-A device of the character described,-

comprising a rectangular shaped base section, a head member on each end of. the base section, a narrow-rib extending substantially from end to end of the base between the head members and separa'tedfrom the same, a projecting lug on each end of the rib and formmg a recess between the base plate and each end of the rib, and a lug on one of the head members. p

6. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular shaped base section, a head member on each end of the base section, a narrow rib extending substantially from end to end'of the base between the head members and separated from the same, a projecting lug on each end of the rib and forming a' recess between the base plate and each end of the rib, and a lug on each head member in alignment with the adjacent lugs on the rib.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular shaped base member, a plurality of parallel interspaced vertically disposed ribs formed on the base, said ribs being shorter than the base, and a retaining lug formed on one end of each rib and forming a'recess between the base plat and one end of each rib.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular shaped base mem- 9. A device of the character described,

comprising a base member, a luralit of arallel'interspaced vertically sposed ribs ormed on the base and extending substantially from end to end thereof, a retaining lug formed on each end of each rib and forming a recess between the base plate and each end of each rib, and a head member formed on each end of the base and separated with relation to the ends of the ribs and the ret ning lugs. formed thereon.

- HARRY A. MULVANY, 

